Farmers being offered new scheme to rear goats
the goan I network
PANAJI
With the going tough to manage the demand-supply imbalances of beef in the market amid objections due to religious taboos and cow vigilantism, the State government is looking at mutton to satisfy the palate of Goans.
Up to Rs 1.32 lakh (approximately 75 per cent of costs) is being offered to farmers in a new scheme floated by the Goa government’s animal husbandry department for goat rearing. And, with marketable weight of goats achievable in 12 months, officials are hoping the strategy will make a difference by next year.
The scheme -- Assistance for Goat Rearing -- was notified a few days ago and primarily aims to “augment production and make Goa self-sufficient in meat production.”
The notification was published in the official gazette by Dr Santosh V Desai, Director & ex-officio Joint Secretary for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services.
It expressly mentions that goat meat is generally acceptable, delicious and has “no religious taboo” giving away the prime motivation for the scheme -- the disruption of the beef market.
Like in the rest of the country, religion-based objections and cow vigilantism has adversely affected the trade in Goa as well. The state-owned abattoir of the Goa Meat
Complex in Usgao-Ponda has for years not functioned to its optimal capacity due to disruption in supply due to interference from cow vigilante groups.
Last year, Goa faced an acute shortage of beef which is widely consumed by the State’s populace, mostly Catholics who are a 26 per cent strong minority. The State’s tourism industry also sees a high demand for the red meat.
Meanwhile, Dr Desai cited the contribution of goat farming to enhance rural economies at the national level, as yet another justification for the scheme.
“More than 70 percent of the landless agricultural labourers, marginal and small farmers of rural India rear them. The socio-economic value of goat rearing as compared to other livestock species has been immense for poor farmers,” the notification issued by Dr Desai said.
The scheme also cites that goats can sustain on sparse vegetation, extreme climatic conditions and are efficient feed converters. Apart from meat, goat milk also has a premium market, it being alkaline and recommended for patients with peptic ulcers, allergic eczemas, jaundice, acidosis and insomnia, it adds.
On the commercial side, Dr Desai also said in the scheme’s notification that goat farming provides quick returns since marketable weight can be achieved in 12 months and demand is high in both domestic as well as export markets.
Farmers resident in Goa for at least five years and formally trained in goat management are eligible for the subsidy under the scheme.
The pattern of assistance under the scheme entitles the farmer to a one-time subsidy of Rs 50,000 for purchase of ten female goats plus one male. In addition, an assistance of around Rs 25,000 will be paid for construction of a shed and an annual subsidy of approximately Rs 7,000 per animal for the feed.
THE WOO STORY
Goat meat generally acceptable, delicious and has “no religious taboo”
Over 70% of landless agricultural labourers, marginal & small farmers rear goats
Socio-economic value of goat rearing as compared to other livestock immense for poor farmers
Goats can sustain on sparse vegetation, extreme climatic conditions and are efficient feed converters
Goat milk also has premium market, it being alkaline and recommended for patients with peptic ulcers, allergic eczemas, jaundice, acidosis & insomnia
THE SCHEME OF THINGS
One-time subsidy of Rs 50,000 for purchase of ten female goats plus one male
Assistance of around Rs 25,000 for construction of shed
Annual subsidy of approximately Rs 7,000 per animal for the feed
